Canberra, Australian Capital Territory

On Tuesday 30 January 2024, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), accompanied by Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting His Excellency Mr Pierre-André Imbert as the Ambassador of France. The Ambassador was accompanied by representatives of the Embassy of France including Mr Martin Juillard, Consul General; and Mrs Julie Le Saos, Deputy Head of Mission.

Then, the Governor-General, accompanied by Mrs Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting His Excellency Mr Hani Mohamed Nagi Abdelhamid as the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Ambassador was accompanied by his spouse Mrs Omnia Shoukry Abdelmoneim Abdelrahman, and representatives of the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt including Mr Osama Rihan, First Secretary; and Ms Rania Makarious, First Secretary.

Later, the Governor-General, accompanied by Mrs Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting His Excellency Mr Ernesto Céspedes Oropeza as the Ambassador of Mexico. The Ambassador was accompanied by his spouse Mr Rafael Martínez Blanco; and representatives of the Embassy of Mexico including Mrs María del Rosario Marta Peña Jaramillo, Minister; Commander Jorge Luis Arellano Olivares, Naval Attaché; and Mrs Graciela Cancino Escalante, Attaché.                                                            

Afterwards, the Governor-General, accompanied by Mrs Hurley, received Letters of Credence accrediting His Excellency Mr Gopal Baglay as the High Commissioner for India. The High Commissioner was accompanied by representatives of the High Commission of India including Mr Suneet Mehta, Deputy High Commissioner; Captain Akhilesh Menon, Defence Adviser; and Ms Chandrakanta Rathore, First Secretary. 

In the afternoon, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley hosted a lunch for newly and recently accredited Heads of Mission. Guests included: Her Excellency Ms Betty Pavelich, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, and Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia; Her Excellency Mrs Elisabeth Kögler, Ambassador of Austria; His Excellency Mr Pierre-André Imbert, Ambassador of France, and his spouse Mrs Sarah-Jane Mirou; His Excellency Mr Hani Mohamed Nagi Abdelhamid, Ambassador for the Arab Republic of Egypt, and his spouse Mrs Omnia Shoukry Abdelmoneim Abdelrahman; His Excellency Mr Ernesto Céspedes Oropeza, Ambassador of Mexico, and his spouse Mr Rafael Martínez Blanco; His Excellency Mr Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner for India; Mr Suneet Mehta, Deputy High Commissioner for India; Mr Rod Brazier, Deputy Secretary, Development, Multilateral and Europe Group (representing the Foreign Minister), and Ms Sophia Knight, Acting Chief of Protocol, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Mr Paul Singer MVO, Official Secretary to the Governor-General; and Mr Jeff Barnes, Deputy Official Secretary to the Governor-General.